Lent is a season that -- for some -- includes fasting as a way of observing this time. Jesus fasted for forty days following
his baptism. During this time, he was in
the wilderness being tempted by the Devil.
This fast and the Lenten season are connected by this number of days and
by this fasting practice.
I don’t know that many people literally fast for this entire
period. Even with the fact that Sundays
don’t make up a part of this self-denying season, I don’t hear people
reflecting on their season-long denial of food.
Some folks participate in a partial fast. They will refrain from eating until three in
the afternoon, or until sunset (they hate to see Daylight Saving Time
come). Others follow a long-standing church
tradition of abstaining from “pleasant food.”
I suppose that is a bit of a subjective evaluation. One person’s “pleasant” is another one’s “rejection.”
So, observing this time with an exercise of self-denial
takes on many forms. “Giving up
something for Lent” leaves the realm of food behind for a lot of people. They instead abandon practices or diversions
for these days.
It is not up to me to judge another person’s spiritual discipline. But I would ask anyone to evaluate their
choices with this question: Is that which you are setting aside good enough to give up for Lent? What I mean by that is does a person set
aside something that is bad for them and then claim it as a spiritual
discipline? I have heard people talk of
giving up excessive consumption of alcohol, smoking, driving over the speed
limit, cursing, overeating and a host of other behaviors in the name of
observing the season.
As difficult as it may be for some individuals to set aside
addictive behavior, I question the labeling of these things as a sacrificial
gift that one places before the Throne of Grace. If I “give up” overindulging of food, do I
set my practice down at the feet of Christ and say, “Lord, I have given up
gluttony in my devotion to you?” I mean,
isn’t gluttony one of the Seven Deadly Sins?
Isn’t it a practice that I should have avoided from the get-go? Do I give myself permission to be a glutton
again once Lent is over and Easter commences?
That just doesn’t seem right.
So, what is appropriate if we observe this practice? I have known people who have given up
seemingly small things, but they required real effort on the part of the
practitioner. One of the positives that
grows out of a decision to deny something is that some believers leave behind a
practice and in its place, they substitute times of prayer, meditation or reflection.
When Lent passes, they may re-order
their lives for the long haul. Or, they
may resume their former ways with a new appreciation of the part that the thing
they have done without plays in their lives.
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